On Saturday at Melbourne, in the final of the 2013 Australian Open,
the 2012 AO champion, 23 year old top seeded #1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus (residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco),
won again, defeating
this year's Shenzhen champ, the 2011 French Open champ (& AO finalist), 30 year old 6th seeded #6 (career high: #4) Na Li from Wuhan, Hubei, China,
4-6, 6-4, 6-3 (Na is shown during the match; Vika is shown holding the hardware afterward).

At the trophy presentation, Victoria said: "It's been a wonderful two weeks for me. I will always keep a very special memory of this court. It will always be in my heart. And also congratulations to Li Na. It has been a great start of the year for you. Best of luck and I hope to see you in many more finals."

At her interview, Victoria said: "You always have to take the opportunity of the important moments. In the second set, in the third set, that's what I was doing better. In the first set, [Na] was really on top of me. She was really going for her shots and making everything happen. Then I just had to readjust and really take advantage of when she gives me an opportunity." postmatch interview

Na had two bad falls during the match. Na said: "I was a little bit worried when I was falling down. The head was touching the floor. Because two second I couldn't really see anything. It was totally black. So when the physio come, she was like, Focus on my finger. I was start laughing. I was thinking, 'This is tennis court, not like hospital.'" postmatch interview

Vika now leads Na 6-4 in career matches. Their previous meeting was last year on blue clay in the quarterfinals at Madrid, when Victoria defeated Na 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Vika is now 15-11 in WTA singles finals, 2-1 in Grand Slam finals, and has an 9-0 singles match record in 2013.

Na is now 7-9 in WTA singles finals, 1-2 in Grand Slam finals, and has a 14-2 singles match record for the year.

Victoria's victory means that she will hold on to the WTA #1 singles ranking. Serena Williams will be #2 in Monday's rankings, Maria Sharapova #3, Agnieszka Radwanska #4, and Li Na #5.

If Na had won the final, Serena Williams would have retaken the #1 ranking. However, Vika has a large number of ranking points to defend in the first part of this season (as does Maria Sharapova) and Serena has very few points to defend, making it almost inevitable that Serena will again be #1 sometime in the next few months.

Monica plays with lots of spin, frequently slicing her forehand. Vika said: "It's definitely unusual. But I know her, since we played under 14 years old. She actually plays a lot more spin balls than back then. It was all slice from both sides before. She's unusual, and she tries to make you feel a little bit miserable on the court, like you don't know what to do, because every ball comes from different angles. It's important to keep your focus." postmatch interview

n2 s2 Maria Sharapova RUS d n105 Olga Puchkova RUS 6-0, 6-0 Mon

Maria launching a forehand on the run

Due to a collarbone injury, it was Maria's first match this season. Maria said: "I didn't want to focus on the fact I hadn't played a lot of matches. Just wanted to focus on just what was ahead of me, and really concentrate and be aggressive... I didn't try to worry about her too much. I just tried to think about what I had to do." postmatch interview

Serena rolled her ankle during the match. Serena said: "I haven't had enough time to assess it yet. Saw the doctor again. We're just gonna see how it is in a few hours from now... Unless something fatal happens to me, there's no way I'm not going to be competing. I'm alive. My heart's beating. I'll be fine... Obviously there's pain. Obviously there's swelling. So it's going to be really important to see how the next few hours unfold." postmatch interview

Sam and Kai-Chen driving forehand and backhand, and Samantha after match point

Samantha had lost both her previous her 1st round matches this year (at Brisbane and Sydney). Aussie #1 Sam said: "I feel very happy, a little bit relieved, and, yeah, just nice to get through that first round finally. From here hopefully I can loosen up a little bit and keep playing better and better." postmatch interview

The win made 42 year old Kimiko the oldest woman ever to win a main draw match at the Australian Open since tennis turned professional in 1968.

Former WTA #4 Kimiko said: "Last year I had many injury. Big one was my calf. It happen at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. And after when I go back to Japan, I changed the training. Now I'm doing the functional training. Now I'm very fit and not get big injury anymore I hope not anymore. But at moment no injury so far. So I feel very good and it helps." postmatch interview

n13 s13 Ana Ivanovic SRB d n95 Melinda Czink HUN 6-2, 6-1 Mon

Ana after winning a point

Ana said: "I really wanted to make sure I work hard for each point and try to take away time for her because she likes to strike the ball and counter punch and use the pace of opponents. I was really pleased with my performance overall today." postmatch interview

Jelena said: "The conditions were quite tough. I felt the wind was swirling, and it wasn't easy controlling the points. So I had to move a lot. The first matches are never easy. I didn't know really my opponent. It was our first match against each other. So I did enough to win. But obviously there was a lot of things that I could have done better, that I've done well. It's okay. For the first win, I'm happy to get through." postmatch interview

Heather felt faint during the match. Heather said: "At the beginning I definitely wasn't there. I wasn't playing well. I didn't have much energy today. I don't know what it was. I think I'm going to go see the doctor after.
"But when I started cramping, you know, I had to start hitting the ball because I couldn't move. I'm kind of thankful that I did cramp today, otherwise I don't know how that would have ended up...
"My elbow was fine today. It's just because I haven't been serving a lot. I didn't really have my timing. It felt fine. I maybe felt it on one serve, but it was fine. I think I was struggling with the wind a bit at the beginning and my timing, but then I got into it." postmatch interview

Victoria said: "I felt really good. I enjoyed a lot the way I was focused. I was definitely something that I stepped it up from my first match, and I was in the zone trying to execute all of my shots. I was trying to make everything happen, and that's what I'm happy about." postmatch interview

n2 s2 Maria Sharapova RUS d n92 Misaki Doi JPN 6-0, 6-0 Wed

Maria driving a backhand

It was Maria's second consecutive double-bagel victory; she has yet to lose a game this year. Maria said: "I was just really trying to be focused... But it's always tough, especially when you're up a set and a couple of breaks to keep that momentum. You know, I really forced myself to concentrate and just get the job done today." postmatch interview

About her 3rd round opponent, Venus Williams, Maria said: "We've played against each other many times. You know, despite the fact that she might not be seeded high or didn't play for a little bit, she's still a very experienced player and a tremendous athlete. Going out there, there won't be too many secrets. I hope for it to be a great match."

n3 s3 Serena Williams USA d n110 Garbine Muguruza ESP 6-2, 6-0 Thu

Serena launching a backhand

About the ankle injury she incurred in the 1st round, Serena said: "I didn't feel anything today. Obviously when you go out to play you're heavy on adrenaline and you're really pumped up. Usually I feel injuries after the match, but so far, so good. I felt pretty, much better than I ever dreamed of expecting to feel." postmatch interview

Angelique said: "(Lucie is) a tough opponent, and you need to be ready for the whole match, because she's playing the ball very hard and deep in the court. So I was just try moving very good and just play my game. Yeah, I'm happy that I won the match in two sets." postmatch interview

n6 s6 Na Li CHN d n57 Olga Govortsova BLR 6-2, 7-5 Wed

Na driving a backhand

*n50 Laura Robson GBR d n8 s8 Petra Kvitova CZE 3-6, 6-3, 11-9 Thu

Laura reaching for a backhand

The match ended after midnight. Laura said: "Even when [Petra] went up a break twice in the third, I just thought I can always break her serve, I just have to get as many returns in as I can. And in the end, I just thought I've got nothing to lose. So I'm just going to relax on my serve a bit more and just go for it." postmatch interview

About her 3rd round opponent, Sloane Stephens, Laura said: "We first played each other when I was 10 or 11, I think... I definitely feel like I could play a lot better than I did last week, and it's going to be really tough, for sure. [Sloane is] in good form at the moment. She's a good mover, good ball striker... She's always been good, so it's not a surprise that she's doing well."

*n42 Jie Zheng CHN d n9 s9 Samantha Stosur AUS 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 Wed

Jie serving, and Samantha and Jie driving backhands

Jie trailed 2-5 in the 3rd set, then won 5 games in a row. Jie said: "In the final set 2 5, I was thinking first time I played in center court is 2006. I thinking, How many times I can play like this court? I need to keep fighting and enjoy the match. Yeah, just too simple. It's amazing I can come back." postmatch interview

Jie had also defeated Sam one week ago in the 1st round at Sydney, 6-3, 6(9)-7, 6-4.

Aussie #1 Sam said: "The way [Jie] hits the ball, you certainly want to have the rally started on your terms as quickly as possible... As soon as you start getting in a bang bang, hitting it hard, low over the net match, that's not my game style. That's exactly what she wants to do.... I know that she never gives up. I was certainly well aware of that. I certainly had to finish the match." postmatch interview

n10 s10 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d n109 Donna Vekic CRO 6-1, 6-4 Thu

Caro delivering a backhand

Caroline said: "I definitely saw a lot of potential in [Donna]... She's young. She's going to improve a lot over the next few years still. I definitely believe that we're going to see a lot of her in the future." postmatch interview

Madison said: "My serving definitely helped me today. You know, in the first set when I got down Love 40 when I was up 4 2, I think being able to hold and come back definitely helped me out." postmatch interview

Heather said: "It was tough. I didn't start great. I didn't think I was coping well with the wind and couldn't find my serve. Didn't feel like I could hit the ball because I thought I would miss.
"And then second set I thought, Just stick in there; keep fighting. It was 5 4 and I had a few set points, one or two, and I was just exhausted... Got to the tiebreak; didn't have a great tiebreak. 6 3 down. So I thought, You know what? She's going to have to win it; I'm not going to give it away. So I just made sure I made every single ball, and then suddenly it's my set point. I'm able to take that set...
"Then that third set I started cramping again, so I had to just hit the ball because I couldn't stay in the long rallies. You know, I don't know why I didn't just start hitting the ball in the beginning." postmatch interview

About her 3rd round opponent, 5-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams, Ayumi said: "She's of course great player and a great champion. I just want to try my best out there. And I never played her, so just go on the court and hope I can play well and enjoy the match."

*n112 Kimiko Date-Krumm JPN d n73 Shahar Peer ISR 6-2, 7-5 Thu

Kimiko after match point

Kimiko said: "It was very, very tough today, tough match. Even I was leading 3-Love, then she come back 4-3 up, and then I had the big pressure... But I tried to push myself. Yeah, it was good." postmatch interview

Vika said: "It was definitely tough. It's always good to battle through not playing well, not feeling great... Towards the end things were going better for me. I'm glad about that, but definitely she played an outstanding match." postmatch interview

Although she played well, Jamie was slowed by back pain. Jamie said: "I'm pretty disappointed right now... I put in a lot of hard work and it's showing." postmatch interview

n2 s2 Maria Sharapova RUS d n25 s25 Venus Williams USA 6-1, 6-3 Fri

Maria serving, Venus driving a forehand, Maria following a backhand, and after match point

Maria said: "I was a really determined player out there because I knew the tennis that [Venus is] capable of producing and playing. Despite what she's ranked or seeded, it doesn't matter when you go out on the court. She's been there. She's experienced enough to know no matter if you're playing the third round, the quarters, or the final, you have to be ready." postmatch interview

Maria now leads Venus 5-3 in career matches. Their previous meeting was last year on red clay in the quarterfinals at Rome, when Maria defeated Venus 6-4, 6-3.

Venus said: "[Maria] played very well. I expect her to play well... Definitely not my best day today. But there's always other days to play better." postmatch interview

n3 s3 Serena Williams USA d n81 Ayumi Morita JPN 6-1, 6-3 Sat

Ayumi serving, and Serena driving a backhand

Serena said: "I thought [Ayumi] played really well. She played at a level higher than I expected, so it took me off guard. She was just consistent, really consistent... I thought it was a good match." postmatch interview

n4 s4 Agnieszka Radwanska POL d n47 Heather Watson GBR 6-3, 6-1 Fri

Agnieszka and Heather driving forehand and backhand

Agnieszka, who won both the Sydney and Auckland titles this year, is now 12-0 in matches this season. Agnieszka said: "I was practicing hard in the offseason, a lot of fitness. But just feeling good on court. I'm very confident from the beginning and just happy that I can play really my best tennis from the beginning of the year." postmatch interview

Heather said: "I thought I had a good start to the match. I had chances early on to break, but I wasn't able to convert. And I think after that game that I didn't convert it kind of just slipped away a little bit... That's what makes Radwanska so good. She's just always there every game, so you can't have a second because she will just take the next few points." postmatch interview

n5 s5 Angelique Kerber GER d n135 wc Madison Keys USA 6-2, 7-5 Fri

Angelique driving a backhand, and with the cakes she received on Friday for her 25th birthday

n6 s6 Na Li CHN d n27 s27 Sorana Cirstea ROU 6-4, 6-1 Fri

Na after match point

Na said: "Before the match I was a little bit nervous because I was play her like many, many times. I know she was like shoot the ball like unbelievable. I never know if next ball is in or out. I have to ready for every second. But was pretty good today. I was feeling more control again on the court. Pretty much easier what I think." postmatch interview

Julia said: "I think it was a great match from both of us. It could have gone either way. I had the lucky end at the end. The next one [against Li Na on Sunday] is the same as today. It's a tough one. She's a Grand Slam champion, and I have to be there from the first second on. You always have a chance to beat those players. I have done it before. Hopefully I can keep going like this." postmatch interview

n29 s29 Sloane Stephens USA d n50 Laura Robson GBR 7-5, 6-3 Sat

Laura driving a backhand, and Sloane about to swat a forehand

Sloane said: "It was super intense... We're pretty good friends. Actually my mom and her mom are good friends. Right after I got off the court, my mom texted me. She was like, 'Great job, good fight.' And she said, 'Cathy says, "Great job and good luck in the next round."' That's Laura's mom... We were coached by the same person. She has unbelievable timing. She's an awesome girl." postmatch interview

Laura needed a medical timeout during the match. Laura said: "I felt something in my shoulder yesterday, but we still don't know what it is because I haven't had time to see the doctor or anything yet... You just have to play through the pain sometimes. But I thought Sloane played really well today... Sloane obviously moves extremely well. I thought today my shot selection actually wasn't too bad." postmatch interview

Vika said: "I felt like I was playing pretty good today. I was focused and in control from the beginning. That was important for me. I feel like I'm improving from match to match." postmatch interview

Later in the day, Elena reached the doubles quarterfinals partnered with Ekaterina Makarova. Elena said: "Another long day at the office. Singles was tough. Vika was too good, well played for her. I run out of the gas a bit, but still got doubles win with my partner Ekaterina. Who is also still playing in singles :) As you can see, we both really want to stay longer in Melbourne!" Elena Vesnina at Twitter

n2 s2 Maria Sharapova RUS d n51 Kirsten Flipkens BEL 6-1, 6-0 Sun

Maria driving a forehand, Kirsten volleying a backhand, and Maria driving one

Maria has yet to lose a set at this year's Australian Open, and has dropped only 5 games in 4 matches (games won-lost record 48-5).

Maria said: "It's really about keeping your focus no matter what the score is, no matter if you're up. I didn't start the match really great. I was facing a different type of opponent today and I was making a few more mistakes than I would have liked in the beginning. But after I held at 2-1 I really started making her play a little bit more. Started really getting under the ball and being aggressive and just had a little bit more energy which really helped me and I carried that throughout the match." postmatch interview

n3 s3 Serena Williams USA d n14 s14 Maria Kirilenko RUS 6-2, 6-0 Mon

Serena and Maria driving forehand and backhand

Serena put 87% of her 1st serves in the box. Serena said: "I definitely have never hit that high of a percentage because I take a lot of chances with my serve. It was good. But I really want to be able to keep it up." postmatch interview

Maria said: "I think I try to do something special tonight. That's why was so many mistakes... maybe I was trying too much. It wasn't my day today." postmatch interview

n4 s4 Agnieszka Radwanska POL d n13 s13 Ana Ivanovic SRB 6-2, 6-4 Sun

Ana and Aga driving forehand and backhand, and Ana congratulating Agnieszka after match point

Agnieszka has not yet lost a match this season (13-0). Agnieszka said: "I think I play very good, especially that I think I was keeping the same level from the beginning till the end. That's why I was able to close this match in two sets." postmatch interview

Ana said: "Obviously I'm disappointed. I really feel I was mis-timing a lot of balls in the first set. I started playing better in the second set, but she played a good match. She's a really tough player." postmatch interview

Ekaterina said: "I really happy that I beat Kerber today because I lost three times last year against her. I'm really glad about my match. It was, I think, perfect. Not all the match perfect, but most of the match. I really enjoyed today." postmatch interview

n6 s6 Na Li CHN d n18 s18 Julia Goerges GER 7-6(6), 6-1 Sun

Na and Julia driving forehands, and Na's backhand drive

Na said: "If I lose in the tiebreak, maybe is another story. And also I was 5-3 down. I didn't try to think about score. Really think about point by point. When she has a set point and she missed the ball... I was happy I'm still on the first set...
Really looking forward for quarterfinal. Is one and a half year. Always lose in the fourth round. So for me it's very important for today the match." postmatch interview

Svetlana said: " I was very happy with the first set, so happy that I stopped to do anything. Third set we were equal... And third set I just had to fight every ball as I could, try to still dictate, try to do the things what I was doing well." postmatch interview

Caroline said: "I had some break points [in the 3rd set] at I think it was 4-3 for me. I was standing on the side with the sun in my back... if I would have broken her there, I had my serve to close out the match. It didn't happen. Then turned on the other side with the sun in my eyes and it made it more difficult. Then she got new balls. Yeah, it was small things that made a difference... obviously you can say if and if, but, you know, maybe just have gone a bit more for it at the time." postmatch interview

Sloane said: "She played very well... I was going cross court on all my shots. That was safe. Can't lose with that. She was going down the line on every shot. That's hard to run back and forth and go down the line. She's hitting it with everything she has, every muscle in her body, and hitting it unbelievable. I mean, I couldn't do anything. The first balls are coming back extremely hard. I couldn't find a rhythm, couldn't find anything. But sometimes you just kind of got to stick it out, and hopefully she comes down off her throne." postmatch interview

Sloane will play Serena Williams in the quarterfinals. Serena and Sloane have met only once before, less than three weeks ago on a Plexicushion hardcourt in the quarterfinals at Brisbane, when Serena defeated Sloane 6-4, 6-3.

Sloane said: "Obviously every match is a learning experience. But you've just got to go and treat it like another match. It wasn't like, 'Oh, my God, I played Serena, I'm going to be so great at all these other things because she just taught me so much.' It was just another match, regular match." postmatch interview

Victoria following a forehand, Svetlana driving one, Vika driving a backhand, and after match point

The 1st set lasted an hour and 17 minutes. Vika said: "I feel like at the beginning it was a little bit like play around, a lot of back and forth. I think we were both producing good tennis, but I felt like she was a little bit on top of me on the important moments. I didn't really take advantage of that, and she really did. So I felt like that was the main thing that she got that lead [late in the 1st set]. Then I turned it around and I took control in my hands and it was more up to me." postmatch interview

Svetlana said: "I had to play with a top player, one of the best players at the moment. These matches, you got to play very consistent. This is what for the moment kills me after my break [missing the 2nd half of 2012 due to a knee injury], is my consistency. And I didn't serve well. So this was two key points during the match what I didn't do well. That's why I lost the match." postmatch interview

Before Sloane Stephens defeated Serena Williams, Victoria said: "I think Sloane is a very, very talented girl... Her game has come together. She's all around player, very competitive. I think she has a good potential. It's just a matter of her getting all those details in place and really wanting to achieve great things."

Maria about to swat a forehand, Katya driving a backhand, Maria following one, and after match point

Maria said: "[Ekaterina has] beaten quality players over the course of last week, and I know that she's capable of playing really good with deep hitting. Also a lefty, which is a bit tricky. So I thought I handled that pretty good and was able to keep my focus all the way through the match." postmatch interview

Ekaterina said: "[Maria is] in a great shape. She's playing unbelievable, so aggressive, and just in the right spot of the court. It's really tough to play against her now. I wanted to be a little bit faster. I didn't really think that I moved that well today. But she's, like, so great now, it was really tough." postmatch interview

About playing Li Na in the semifinals, Maria said: "I've beaten [Na] the last few times that we've played, but they've always been really good matches, really tough matches. I certainly expect it in the next one. She's had a great start to the year and playing really well. She was, you know, the most improved player towards the end of last year as well, so that will be hopefully a high quality semi."

Sloane volleying a forehand, Serena and Sloane driving backhands, and Sloane after match point

After losing the 1st set, Sloane trailed 0-2 in the 2nd. Sloane said: "I was like, 'Hmm, this is not the way you want it to happen. But you just fight and just get every ball back, run every ball down, and just get a lot of balls in play, I think you'll be okay.'
"From then on I got aggressive, started coming to the net more, and just got a lot more comfortable. I just kind of just kind of played my game from there, I think." postmatch interview

Although she gave Sloane full credit for the win, Serena, who had an ankle injury prior to the tourney, was slowed during the match by a back injury. Serena said: "It's hard to rotate to the backhand. It was giving me trouble. But it was fine. I think my opponent played well and was able to do a really good job." postmatch interview

About her semifinal against Victoria Azarenka, Sloane said: "Gonna be a totally different match. I'm just going to go out and play my best, obviously. Do what I do really well and just play my game. Just hopefully play well again."

*n6 s6 Na Li CHN d n4 s4 Agnieszka Radwanska POL 7-5, 6-3 Tue

Na and Agnieszka driving forehand and backhand, Na launching another forehand on the run, and Aga congratulating Na after match point

Na said: "[Agnieszka is] a tough player. I was feeling today against a wall. She can hit everywhere, but without a mistake. I was feeling just very tough. You have to focus on every shot. Not every point, every shot. If you hit like slow or like short one, she'll attack." postmatch interview

It was Agnieszka's the first loss of the season (13-1); she had defeated Na in the Sydney semifinals. Agnieszka said: "I think [Na] played better than last week in Sydney. Definitely she was very solid from the beginning of the match. She was really playing good tennis. Some of the games she didn't let me do anything. Very deep balls all the time. Good serve. She was really playing good tennis today." postmatch interview

About playing Maria Sharapova in the semifinals, Na said: "[Maria is] more aggressive player on the court. Also she's tough. She's fighting a lot. Should be tough match. So we can see Thursday."

Victoria and Sloane following forehand and backhand, Vika driving a backhand, and after match point

Victoria had to take a medical timeout late in them match due to a rib dislocation which was hurting her back. She called the MTO at a time when some might have considered it "gamesmanship."

Vika said: "I had been struggling a little bit throughout the whole match, from the second set, my back. And it just kept getting worse. I should have, you know, called the trainer a little bit earlier before that when I got to the point that I couldn't really breathe and had to go off court.
So there was a little bit of my bad. But just a rib got locked and kept getting worse. I had to have it adjusted. I really had to go and take that medical timeout." postmatch interview

Sloane said: "I obviously didn't get the win, but I just did everything I could and came up a little bit short. All in all it was okay... she played obviously a really good match. First set she played awesome; got close in the second. I just didn't want to give it to her basically and just kind of worked for every point. It didn't go my way, but I wouldn't say at all [that the medical time out] affected the match." postmatch interview

About the final, Victoria said: "I think [Na is] in incredible form right now really. You know, in the finals anything can happen. It looks like she improved a lot. Will be a tough match, so I'm really looking forward to it."

*n6 s6 Na Li CHN d n2 s2 Maria Sharapova RUS 6-2, 6-2

Na and Maria driving forehand and backhand, Na launching another forehand on the run, and after match point

Na said: "Beginning of the match I was nervous. I was happy I come back to semis again, but for some reason I really want to win the match. I don't know what happened today. Just come to the court, feeling like, 'Okay, just do it.' Yeah." postmatch interview

Maria still leads Na 8-5 in career matches.Maria said: "I think [Na] played a really great match. She was certainly much more aggressive than I was, dictating the play. I was always on the defense. When I had my opportunities and breakpoints in games that went to deuce, I don't think any of them really went my way today... There's no reason why she can't win [the final]." postmatch interview

Commenting about the final before the other semi was completed, Na said: "2011, first time to the Grand Slam final, I was a little bit shocked because I didn't know what I should do. Also no one tell me what I should do on the court. But this time I got more experience, so I think should be better."

Na serving, Victoria and Na driving forehand and backhand, Na after taking a bad fall in which her head struck the court,Vika serving, Na fielding a forehand, Vika driving one, and Na congratulating Vika after match point

(May 30, 2007) The Rebound Ace courts used since 1988 for the Australian Open and the events leading up to it will be replaced, beginning in 2008, by a less cushioned surface created by the US company Plexipave, called Plexicushion, which will be installed by Aussie company William Loud. WTA story

Because of the travel involved, the Australian had always been number four on the Grand Slam ladder. But it had been a solid number four. In 1974 Jimmy Connors won his first Grand Slam Title there. That same year, Evonne Goolagong beat Chris Evert in the women's final. A year later, the finals were Newcombe over Connors, and Goolagong over Martina Navratilova.
But it was getting tougher and tougher to get the players to make the trip to Australia around the Christmas holidays, which was when the tournament was held. Guarantees were beginning to push player income so high that the top players saw no reason to make the trip. Bjorn Borg never played the Australian after 1974. Connors hasn't been back since 1975. Evert didn't go for six straight years after her loss to Goolagong, and Navratilova skipped four years after her loss to Goolagong.
The tournament deteriorated quickly. Kooyong, the venerable Melbourne tennis club where the tournament was held, was a badly outdated facility. It was overcrowded and the grass was not in good shape. In fact, many players complained that on one side of center court you were actually running uphill to get to the net.
In 1978 Chris O'Neil beat Betsy Nagelsen in the women's final. The next year Barbara Jordan beat Sharon Walsh. None of these four players ever came close to a Grand Slam final again...

Philippe Chatrier, the ITF president, was extremely concerned about what he saw in Australia. He had fallen in love with the country on his first trip there as a young sportswriter in 1956. Chatrier knew that the Australian had become a Grand Slam in name only. Brian Tobin, the president of Tennis Australia, knew that, too.

...The women had upgraded their half of the tournament in the early eighties by splitting from the men. Chatrier and Tobin together convinced the Men's Tennis Council [the MTC, which controlled men's pro tennis before the ATP] to move the tournament to the last week in November. That helped a little. Then came the matter of talking the women into going back to the old two-week format.
"The women weren't too keen on that," Tobin said. "By 1980 the top women like Chrissie and Martina were coming here again and they were doing quite well on their own. But we knew to be a true Grand Slam again, we had to be a two-week tournament."
There were still major problems. Not only was Kooyong an awful facility for a major championship, it was costing Tennis Australia $1 million a year to rent. A new facility was desperately needed, but that would cost, according to estimates, $40 million. Tennis Australia just didn't have that kind of money.

...Sitting at his desk one morning, Tobin saw a small story in the paper, which noted that the government of Victoria--the state in which Melbourne is located--was looking for a site to build a new entertainment center. Tobin called John Cain, the premier of Victoria, and asked for a meeting. Perhaps there was some way for the government and Tennis Australia to build a facility together.
Cain was interested but there was an obvious problem. Grand Slam tennis tournaments were played outdoors; most entertainment events were staged indoors. It was Cain who came up with the solution. "Why not build it with a roof that opens?" he suggested.
The rest, as they say, is history.
The land chosen to build the National Tennis Center was Flinders Park... only five minutes from the heart of Melbourne... ground was broken early in 1986. (The projected cost... was about $70 million. Before it was done, the cost was more than $100 million.)

...They studied the other three Grand Slam facilities to try to figure out how to build the best possible venue... "We studied the U.S. Open site in order to see what not to do," Tobin said, laughing. They also proposed another date change to the MTC, asking that the tournament be moved to mid-January...

The MTC approved the calendar change. The last Australian Open at Kooyong was played in January 1987, and when the tennis world arrived in Melbourne the following January, it was clear that the Australian had arrived as a Grand Slam. The stadium seated fifteen thousand, with excellent sight lines everywhere. Most of the seats were in the shade, which helped even on the days when the heat was most unbearable. The women's final that year was completed with the roof closed, when it started to rain after the match had begun. The locker rooms were the roomiest in the world. The walkways were wide, and there were two ministadiums that served as courts 1 and 2. Chatrier called it "the tennis stadium of the twenty-first century."
With the new dates, everyone came to play. Steffi Graf started her Grand Slam by beating Chris Evert in the women's final... In 1990, Channel 7 would be on the air for about 120 hours during the two-week tournament.
Most of the country would be watching most of the time.